If you strip the vinyl off of a typical double pane insulated vinyl window, do you think the IGU (insulated glass unit) would retain its integrity?

Windows on Wash

12-06-2011 11:43 PM

"strip the vinyl"?

Do you mean that you take the IGU out of the frame?

If you preserve the seal and its integrity, it should be fine.

HomeSealed

12-06-2011 11:57 PM

I have no idea what that means... but as WoW alluded to, the IGU and the vinyl frame, sash, etc are completely separate and independent units. It is not uncommon to re-glaze a new IGU into an existing window. The vinyl has 0 effect on the integrity of the IGU or its seal.

RPN

12-07-2011 10:15 AM

The short version:

What I mean by strip the vinyl is to dremel / snip as needed until all that is left is what is in the photo below. I want to do that to use the IGUs in some temporary windows.

The long version:

I have a concrete block wall that has 6 windows in it. The windows are aluminum, single glazed, horizontal sliders, and very old.

The genius that installed them (around 30 years ago) mortared them in place. The mortar (being welled cured) is harder than rock. I will have to chisel each window free.

The opening will be approximately 36"x24", but will vary from window to window depending on how much of the mortar bed I can chip free. If put in a wood rough sill, the opening will be closer to 33"x21"

I need to put in some temporary windows - just something to last until I have time to either have custom windows made or have time to build some nice windows myself (probably not until March or April).

I really, really need to put these temporary windows in this weekend. Yep, three days from now.

Stock windows at the big box stores aren't anywhere close to the right dimensions. Custom windows would be too long in getting here.

So, my quickest options are:

a. Throw together a quick and dirty window from two panes of Lexan. This would probably be a treated rough sill / frame secured with tapcons. It woould be something like this:

A good utility knife to cut the glazing tape/sealant and removal of the glazing bead will do the trick.

Instead of throwing away the frame, I would ask about what is commonly referred to as a deadlite. You might get them for about as cheap.

Attempting to make a sealed IGU out of the Lexan is probably flawed and I would not both with the desiccant and other stuff. Pop a couple of holes in the top and bottom of the window and just allow the unit to breathe and dry any accumulated moisture out.

The window not being a seal IGU does not really adversely affect the performance.

See if you can get the deadlites with Low-e/argon.

RPN

12-07-2011 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windows on Wash
(Post 788578)

You don't need a dremel to get the IGU away from the frame.

A good utility knife to cut the glazing tape/sealant and removal of the glazing bead will do the trick.

Thanks for that. I have found some possible donor windows that are $118 each - so $59 per IGU.

I will know more after I finish chipping one of the old windows out tomorrow night.